Daunte Rachard Culpepper(born January 28, 1977) is a formerAmerican footballquarterbackwho played in theNational Football League(NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with theMinnesota Vikings. He playedcollege footballat theUniversity of Central Floridaand was drafted 11th overall by the Vikings in the1999 NFL Draft.

A three-timePro Bowlselection during his seven seasons with the Vikings, Culpepper's most successful season came in2004in which he set a then-single season record for the most total yardage produced by a quarterback in NFL history at 5,123. However, Culpepper suffered a serious knee injury the following season that ended his Vikings career. After his injury, he played sparingly in the NFL for theMiami Dolphins,Oakland Raiders, andDetroit Lions. His professional career concluded after one season with theSacramento Mountain Lionsof theUnited Football League(UFL).

Culpepper was first and most often linked to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Jaguars head coachJack Del Riosaid he did not feel Culpepper would be a good fit.[28]Culpepper worked out forthe Tampa Bay Buccaneerssoon after his release, but was not acquired by the team. On July 31, Culpepper signed a one-year contract withthe Oakland Raiders, as an insurance policy by the Raiders as they struggled to sign number-one draft pickJaMarcus Russell, with whom they were engaging in contract negotiations. In 2007, Culpepper replaced the injuredJosh McCownfor the Raiders matchup against his former team, the Miami Dolphins. Culpepper finished the game with two passing and three rushing touchdowns. Culpepper started a total of six games for Oakland. Prior to the Week 13 game againstthe Denver Broncos, Culpepper was nursing a sore quadriceps. He said he suffered the injury during the Week 12 game againstthe Kansas City Chiefsbut it did not begin to bother him until Wednesday.[29][30]Some sources said he suffered the injury when he ran a race with Oakland cornerbackStanford Routt, a college sprinter, after practice but head coachLane Kiffinsaid “I don‘t know anything about that.”[31]Due to his injury, Culpepper did not play in another game that season and was placed on injured reserve on December 26.[32][33]